Pump assembly

ABSTRACT

A pump assembly includes a rotor axle, an impeller and a pump housing defining a radial inner reference surface. A drive motor includes a stator accommodated in stator housing and a rotor accommodated in a rotor can. A radial bearing ring is in sliding contact with the rotor axle. A bearing retainer engages the radial bearing ring and centers it with respect to the radial inner reference surface. A neck ring is coupled to the pump housing and has a circumferential wall section. The impeller is located axially between the bearing retainer and the neck ring. The circumferential wall section at least partially extends into the impeller or the impeller at least partially extends into the circumferential wall section. The circumferential wall section includes a cylindrical radial outer surface and a cylindrical radial inner surface. The radial outer surface is eccentric with respect to the radial inner surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 ofEuropean Application 18 212 319.0, filed Dec. 13, 2018, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to pump assemblies, inparticular to speed controlled wet rotor pumps. Such pumps in the powerrange of 5 W to 3 kW are typically used as circulation pumps of househeating systems.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Wet rotor pumps usually comprise a rotor can separating a permanentmagnet rotor from a stator. The rotor drives an impeller located in apump housing. Typically, a motor housing is fastened to the pumphousing, wherein the rotor can and the stator are attached to the pumphousing by the fastener of the motor housing.

EP 2 072 828 A1 describes a wet rotor centrifugal pump as a circulationpump for house heating systems. The pump disclosed therein has a compactdesign by locating motor electronics at least partially radially aroundthe stator. The motor housing of that pump is attached to the pumphousing via a rotor can flange so that the motor housing can be removedwithout releasing any wet parts. However, the pump disclosed thereinuses circumferentially distributed trunnions 26 of a large rotor canflange for rotation prevention and axial alignment of the components.The large rotor can require significant lateral space.

For an even more compact design with a smaller rotor can flange, othersolutions for an exact coaxial alignment of the rotor axis with therespect to the pump housing are needed.

SUMMARY

In contrast to such known pumps, embodiments of the present disclosureprovide a pump assembly with a more compact design.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a pumpassembly is provided comprising

-   -   a rotor axle extending along a rotor axis,    -   an impeller fixed to the rotor axle,    -   a pump housing accommodating the impeller, wherein the pump        housing defines a first radial inner reference surface,    -   a drive motor comprising a stator and a rotor, wherein the rotor        is fixed to the rotor axle for driving the impeller,    -   a rotor can accommodating the rotor, wherein the rotor can        comprises a rotor can flange,    -   a stator housing accommodating the stator,    -   a first radial bearing ring being in sliding contact with the        rotor axle, and    -   a bearing retainer embracing (engaging) the first radial bearing        ring and cantering the first radial bearing ring with respect to        the first radial inner reference surface of the pump housing and    -   a neck ring coupled to the pump housing, wherein the impeller is        located axially between the bearing retainer and the neck ring,        wherein the neck ring comprises a circumferential wall section,        wherein the circumferential wall section at least partially        extends into the impeller or the impeller at least partially        extends into the circumferential wall section.    -   The circumferential wall section of the neck ring comprises a        cylindrical radial outer surface and a cylindrical radial inner        surface, wherein the radial outer surface is eccentric with        respect to the radial inner surface. Preferably, the        circumferential wall section at least partially extends into the        impeller, because the fluids flow is from the neck ring into the        impeller. However, alternatively, the impeller may at least        partially extend into the cylindrical section of the neck ring.

The gap between the impeller and the neck ring must be large enough forlow-friction rotation of the impeller, wherein the gap must account forany eccentricity of the rotor axis with respect to the neck ring of thepump housing due to manufacturing tolerances. However, the larger thegap between the impeller and the neck ring is, the more fluid escapesfrom the high-pressure chamber directly back through the gap to thelow-pressure chamber, which costs pumping efficiency.

The pump assembly disclosed herein provides a smaller gap and thus ahigher pump efficiency, because manufacturing tolerances betweendifferent pump parts, which are typically independently manufactured inseparate manufacturing steps, do not lead to an eccentricity of therotor axis with respect to the neck ring of the pump housing. In casethe circumferential wall section at least partially extends into theimpeller, the eccentric radial outer surface of the circumferential wallsection of the neck ring can be better coaxially aligned with respect tothe first radial inner reference surface, which maybe used to define theposition of the rotor axis by means of the bearing retainer and therotor can. The radial outer surface may also be tilted with respect tothe radial inner surface in order to be better aligned perpendicular toa first annular reference surface of the pump housing determining theangular orientation of the rotor axis by means of a stator housing. Incase the impeller at least partially extends into the cylindricalsection of the neck ring, it is the radial inner surface of thecircumferential wall section that is coaxially aligned to the rotoraxis.

Optionally, the impeller may comprise a radial inner or outer surface,wherein the radial outer or inner surface of the circumferential wallsection have a radial distance to the radial inner or outer surface ofthe impeller defining a gap. As stated above, this gap can be designedmuch smaller with the pump assembly according to this disclosure.Optionally, the radial outer or inner surface of the circumferentialwall section of the neck ring is coaxial with the first radial innerreference surface and the rotor axis.

Optionally, in case the circumferential wall section at least partiallyextends into the impeller, the radial outer surface of thecircumferential wall section of the neck ring may be a machined surfacewith a milling edge extending along at least a portion of thecircumference of the circumferential wall section of the neck ring. Incase the impeller at least partially extends into the cylindricalsection of the neck ring, it is preferably the radial inner surface ofthe circumferential wall section of the neck ring that is a machinedsurface with a milling edge extending along at least a portion of thecircumference of the circumferential wall section of the neck ring.Preferably, in either case, the milling edge may extend along the fullcircumference of the circumferential wall section of the neck ring.

Optionally, the rotor can flange may have a radial distance to the pumphousing and the rotor can may comprise a radial inner cantering surfacebeing centered by radially abutting against a radial outer canteringsurface of the bearing retainer.

Optionally, the radial inner cantering surface of the rotor can and/orthe radial outer cantering surface of the bearing retainer may have atleast three, preferably four, radial projections. The radial projectionsfacilitate an exact concentric alignment between the rotor can and thebearing retainer.

Optionally, the bearing retainer may comprise a radial outer bearingretainer surface having at least three radial projections radiallyabutting against the first radial inner reference surface of the pumphousing and cantering the bearing retainer with respect to the firstradial inner reference surface of the pump housing. These radialprojections facilitate an exact concentric alignment of the bearingretainer with respect to the pump housing. The first radial innerreference surface of the pump housing may be defined in the samemanufacturing step of the pump housing when the neck ring position isdefined to minimize manufacturing tolerances.

Optionally, the rotor can flange may form a circumferential U-shapedgroove with a radial inner section and a radial outer section, whereinthe radial inner section forms the radial inner cantering surface of therotor can. Thereby, the rotor can flange is stiffened and stabilized. Itshould be noted that the rotor can may not even be in direct contactwith the pump housing.

Optionally, the rotor can flange may comprise a annular stop surfacefacing away from the impeller. This stop surface may define an exactpositioning of the rotor can in axial direction. In contrast to wetrotor centrifugal pumps known in the prior art, the rotor can is axiallynot limited by the pump housing directly. The rotor can may thus be moreresilient to withstand pressure shocks. The annular stop surface may beconical, wherein the radially outward end of the annular stop surface islocated further away from the impeller than the radially inward end ofthe annular stop surface. The rotor can flange may thus deformresiliently for an axial movement to resiliently withstand pressureshocks.

Optionally, a locking ring may be secured in a circumferential groove ofthe pump housing, wherein the annular stop surface axially abuts againstthe locking ring. When the pump assembly is assembled, the locking ringmay be placed into the groove after the rotor can flange has been placedinto position within the pump housing. If the end of the rotor axle towhich the impeller is fixed is denoted as the “lower” end and the rotoraxle extends “upward” from the impeller into the rotor can, the rotorcan is secured against an “upward” movement. This is fundamentallydifferent to the pumps known in the prior art, wherein the rotor can isfixed “downwardly” to the pump housing by screws. Thus, the pumpassembly disclosed herein allows for a much more compact design.

Optionally, the rotor can flange may comprise an annular contact surfacefacing towards the impeller and the bearing retainer flange comprises anannular biasing surface facing away from the impeller, wherein thebearing retainer is resiliently preloaded for biasing the annularbiasing surface of the bearing retainer flange against the annularcontact surface of the rotor can flange. The bearing retainer may thusnot only be used for cantering the rotor can, but also for axialpositioning of the rotor can with respect to the pump housing. Thebearing retainer may comprise a conical bearing retainer flange section,wherein the radially outward end of the bearing retainer flange sectionis located closer to the impeller than the radially inward end of thebearing retainer flange section. The radially outward end of the bearingretainer flange section may rest on an axial stop surface of the pumphousing. The annular biasing surface may be formed by a radially inwardportion of the conical bearing retainer flange section. The annularcontact surface of the rotor can flange and/or the annular biasingsurface of the bearing retainer flange may comprise at least three axialprojections.

During assembly of the pump assembly, the bearing retainer may be placedinto the pump housing to rest of the axial stop surface of the pumphousing. The rotor can may be pressed downwards with its lower annularcontact surface onto the upper annular biasing surface of the bearingretainer to resiliently deform the conical bearing retainer flangesection. The locking ring is placed into the groove to secure the rotorcan axially while the rotor can is pressed down against the bearingretainer. Thus, the bearing retainer is resiliently preloaded to biasthe rotor can upward against the locking ring. The impeller, the rotoraxle, the rotor, the bearings, the bearing retainer and the rotor canmay be placed into the pump housing as a pre-assembled unit beingsecured downwards by the locking ring, wherein the bearing retainer actsas an upwardly biasing spring.

Optionally, the pump housing may define a first annular referencesurface facing away from the impeller and the stator housing defines asecond annular reference surface facing towards the impeller, whereinthe second annular reference surface is biased against the first annularreference surface. Preferably, the first annular reference surface ofthe pump housing is defined in the same machining step as the firstradial inner reference surface, preferably with the same drilling head,to minimize manufacturing tolerances. The first annular referencesurface may thus extend in a plane exactly orthogonal to the center axisof the first radial inner reference surface. Therefore, the firstannular reference surface may allow for an exact angular alignment ofthe stator housing with respect to the pump housing.

Optionally, the stator may define a second radial inner referencesurface and the rotor can may comprise a radial outer alignment surfacebeing aligned perpendicular to the first annular reference surface ofthe pump housing by radially abutting against the second radial innerreference surface of the stator. Thereby, the rotor can may be angularlyaligned with respect to the pump housing by means of the stator housing.For instance, the stator may comprise a plurality of stator teeth aroundeach of which a stator coil in form of windings is spooled, wherein thesecond radial inner reference surface are defined by the radial innersurface of the plurality of stator teeth.

Optionally, the first annular reference surface may be located radiallymore outward than the first radial inner reference surface and/or thefirst annular reference surface is located axially further away from theimpeller than the first radial inner reference surface. Thereby, thepump housing provides a good leverage for the stator housing toangularly align the rotor can with respect to the pump housing.

Optionally, the second radial inner reference surface is locatedradially more inward than the second annular reference surface and/orthe second radial inner reference surface is located axially furtheraway from the impeller than the second annular reference surface.Thereby, the stator housing has a good leverage to angularly align therotor can with respect to the pump housing.

Optionally, the second annular reference surface may extend in a planeessentially orthogonal to the center axis of the second radial innerreference surface. Therefore, the second annular reference surface mayallow for an exact angular alignment of the rotor can with respect tothe pump housing.

Optionally, the pump assembly may comprise a bayonet ring for securingthe stator housing to the pump housing, wherein the bayonet ring isresiliently preloaded for axially biasing the stator housing against thepump housing towards the impeller. The second annular reference surfaceof the stator housing is thus pressed downwards onto the first annularreference surface of the pump housing by means of the bayonet ring. Thebayonet ring allows for securing the stator housing to the pump housingin a very compact way. Furthermore, the bayonet ring secures the statorhousing against rotation around the rotor axis in well-defined angularposition. The bayonet ring may be a metal wire with circularcross-section. The bayonet ring may comprise circumferential firstsections with a first radius and circumferential second sections with asecond radius, wherein the second radius is smaller than the firstradius. The second sections may be formed as radially inward projectionscooperating with bayonet grooves in a radially outer surface of thestator housing. The first sections of the bayonet ring may be secured ina circumferential groove of the pump housing. The bayonet grooves in thestator housing may comprise a first “vertical” section through which thesecond sections of the bayonet ring pass when the stator housing isplaced downwards onto the first annular reference surface of the pumphousing. The bayonet grooves in the stator housing may comprise a second“upwardly sloped” circumferential section with a first end at the first“vertical” section and a second end circumferentially distanced from thefirst end, wherein the first end of the second section is located closerto the second annular reference surface of the stator housing than thesecond end of the second section. Upon manual rotation of the statorhousing by a pre-defined angle for the second sections of the bayonetring to be guided along the second sections of the bayonet grooves fromthe first end to the second end, the second sections of the bayonet ringare pushed upward by the slope while the first sections of the bayonetring remain secured in the pump housing. Thereby, the bayonet ringresiliently twists between the first sections and the second sections.The second sections of the bayonet ring may click into a horizontal or“downwardly sloped” end section at the second end of the second sectionof the grooves. The resilient twist of the bayonet ring biases thesecond annular reference surface of the stator housing downward onto thefirst annular reference surface of the pump housing.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a methodof manufacturing a pump assembly is provided comprising the steps:

-   -   coupling a neck ring to a pump housing,    -   defining a first radial inner reference surface by machining the        pump housing, and    -   defining a radial outer surface or radial inner surface by        machining a circumferential wall section of the neck ring so        that the radial outer surface or radial inner surface is coaxial        with the first radial inner reference surface.

This manufacturing method allows for a smaller nominal gap between theimpeller and the neck ring, because smaller tolerances can be achieved.

Optionally, the steps of defining the first radial inner referencesurface and defining the radial outer surface or radial inner surfaceare performed after the step of coupling the neck ring to the pumphousing. So, the pump housing and the neck ring may be machined togetheras a first preassembled unit.

Optionally, the steps of defining the first radial inner referencesurface and defining the radial outer surface or radial inner surfaceare performed with the same machining tool, wherein the fastening of thepump housing in the machining tool is maintained between these twodefining steps. In other words, the pump housing is not unclamped fromthe machining tool between these two defining steps. This furtherreduces manufacturing tolerances.

Optionally, the method may further comprise a step of defining a firstannular reference surface by machining the pump housing, wherein alldefining steps are performed with the same machining tool, wherein thefastening of the pump housing in the machining tool is maintainedbetween the defining steps. In other words, the pump housing is notunclamped from the machining tool between these two defining steps. Thisis useful to not only reduce the tolerances for the concentricpositioning, but also to reduce the tolerances for the coaxial angularalignment, i.e. non-tilting. In fact, the radial outer surface may thusbe tilted with respect to the radial inner surface.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a pump assembly disclosedherein;

FIG. 2 is a top view of an example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cut view along cut A-A as outlined in FIG. 2 ofan example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 4 is a partly exploded view of an example of a pump assemblydisclosed herein;

FIG. 5a is a perspective exploded view of a pump housing plus bayonetring according to an example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 5b is a perspective view of a pump housing plus bayonet ringaccording to an example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pump housing plus bayonet ring androtor can according to an example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a pump housing with an inserted bayonet ring,rotor can and locking ring according to an example of a pump assemblydisclosed herein;

FIG. 8a is a longitudinal cut view along cut A-A as outlined in FIG. 7of an example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 8b is a longitudinal cut view along cut A-A as outlined in FIG. 7of an example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 9 is a partly exploded view of a pump housing plus a bayonet ring,a rotor can and a locking ring according to an example of a pumpassembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 10 is a top view of an example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cut view with a detailed view along cut A-A asoutlined in FIG. 10 of an example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a pump housing plus bayonet ring andstator housing according to an example of a pump assembly disclosedherein;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cut view with a detailed view of a pumphousing with an installed bearing retainer and, prior to theirinstallation, a rotor can and a locking ring according to an example ofa pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cut view with a detailed view of a pumphousing with an installed bearing retainer and, after theirinstallation, a rotor can and a locking ring according to an example ofa pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal cut view with a top view and with a detailedtop view of a bearing retainer and a rotor can according to an exampleof a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 16a is a cut view with a detailed cut view of a pump housing withan installed neck ring before being machined according to an example ofa pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 16b is a top view of a neck ring before being machined according toan example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 17a is a cut view and a detailed cut view of a pump housing with aninstalled neck ring after being machined according to an example of apump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 17b is a top view of a neck ring after being asymmetricallymachined according to an example of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 18a is a perspective view of a stator housing and a stator formeras part of the stator housing according to an example of a pump assemblydisclosed herein;

FIG. 18b is a perspective view of a stator housing and a stator formeras part of the stator housing according to an example of a pump assemblydisclosed herein;

FIG. 19a is a bottom view of a cap of a stator housing according to anexample of a pump assembly disclosed herein;

FIG. 19b is a sectional view along cut K-K of the cap as outlined inFIG. 19a ; and

FIG. 19c is a detailed view O-O, as outlined in FIG. 19b , of the cap.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 19 show embodiments of a pumpassembly 1 with a centrifugal pump unit 2, an input port 3 and an outputport 5, wherein the input port 3 and an output port 5 are coaxiallyarranged on a pipe axis F on opposing sides of the pump unit 2.

The input port 3 and the output port 5 comprise connector flanges 7, 9for a connection to pipes (not shown). The pump unit 2 comprises a rotoraxis R essentially perpendicular to the pipe axis F. It should be notedthat the terms “radial”, “circumferential”, “angular” and “axial”throughout this disclosure are to be understood with reference to therotor axis R. A pump housing 11 of the pump unit 2 is arranged betweenthe input port 3 and the output port 5. The pump housing 11 comprises animpeller 12 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 a,b) for rotating counter-clockwisearound the rotor axis R and pumping fluid from the input port 3 to theoutput port 5. The impeller 12 is driven counter-clockwise by athree-phase synchronous permanent magnet drive motor having a stator 17located in a stator housing 13 around the rotor axis R. The electronicsare also accommodated by the stator housing 13, so that the statorhousing 13 may be denoted as electronics housing 13. The stator housing13 is mounted to the pump housing 11 by means of a bayonet-like mount(see FIGS. 4 and 12).

The stator housing 13 comprises motor control electronics on a printedcircuit board (PCB) 15 extending in a plane essentially perpendicular tothe rotor axis R below a front face 19 of a cap 21 of the stator housing13. The stator housing 13 is not rotationally symmetric, but providesmore room at one lateral side for electronics controlling the motor (seeFIG. 2). The motor and motor electronics are power supplied via a low DCvoltage connector (not shown). The pump assembly 1 may comprise anexternal power supply module (not shown) for connection with the low DCvoltage connector. The external power supply module may transform an ACline voltage of 110-240V to a low DC voltage of 30-60V. The externalpower supply may comprise a line filter against electromagneticinterference (EMI) and a voltage converter, which is located on themotor electronics PCB. Thus, the motor electronics PCB 15 and the statorhousing 13 may have a more compact configuration. The front face 19 ofthe cap 21 of the stator housing 13 may comprise a user interface, suchas a button, a light-emitting diode (LED) and/or a display (not shown).A button may for instance be an on/off-button. One or more LEDs and/or adisplay may signal an operating parameter or status, e.g. for indicatinga normal operation, a failure mode, a motor speed, asuccessful/unsuccessful wireless connection, a power consumption, aflow, a head and/or a pressure.

The top view of FIG. 2 shows the cut A-A, the view of which is shown inFIG. 3. The non-rotationally-symmetric shape of the stator housing 13 isclearly visible in FIG. 2. The cut view of FIG. 3 displays the verycompact pump configuration achieved by the pump assembly disclosedherein. The inlet port 3 curls from the pipe axis F in afluid-mechanically efficient way to lead from below coaxially with therotor axis R into an impeller chamber 23 of the pump housing 11. Theimpeller chamber 23 has a concentric bottom entry 25 in fluidicconnection with the inlet port 3 and a tangential exit 27 in fluidicconnection with the outlet port 5. A neck ring 29 fixed to the pumphousing 11 comprises a circumferential wall section 30 extendingpartially into the impeller 12 and thereby separating the impellerchamber 23 into a low-pressure chamber including the bottom entry 25(fluid input) from a high-pressure chamber including the tangential exit27 (fluid output). There is a gap G between the impeller 12 and thecircumferential wall section 30 of the neck ring 29 that must be largeenough for low-friction rotation of the impeller 12, wherein the gap Gmust account for any eccentricity of the rotor axis R with respect tothe neck ring 29 due to manufacturing tolerances. However, the gap Gshould be minimal to minimize the amount of fluid escaping from thehigh-pressure chamber directly back through the gap G to thelow-pressure chamber, which costs pumping efficiency. The impeller 12comprises inner spiral vanes 31 and at its bottom side an impeller plate33 for forming fluid-mechanically efficient impeller channels foraccelerating fluid radially outward and tangentially incounter-clockwise direction by a centrifugal force when the impeller 12rotates. Such a radially outward and tangentially flow creates a centralsuction of fluid from the inlet port 3.

The pump housing 11 has an upper circular opening 35 through which theimpeller 12 can be placed into the impeller chamber 23 duringmanufacturing of the pump unit 2. In order to achieve a most compactpump configuration, the circular opening 35 may have a just slightlylarger diameter than the impeller 12. The end of the circular opening 35is formed by a radially inward projection 37. The radially inwardprojection 37 forms an axial annular surface 39 on which a bearingretainer 41 resides with a radial outer section of a bearing retainerflange 43. A rotor axle 45 extends along the rotor axis R through thebearing retainer 41 and is rotationally fixed with a lower end portionto the impeller 12. The bearing retainer 41 centers a first radialbearing ring 47 with a radially inner ceramic surface being in radialsliding contact with an outer ceramic surface of the rotor axle 45. Therotor axle 45 and the first radial bearing ring 47 may comprise ceramiclow friction radial contact surfaces. A very thin lubricating film ofthe pumped fluid in the range of microns may establish between the rotoraxle 45 and the first radial bearing ring 47 when the rotor axle 45rotates relative to the fixed first radial bearing ring 47. An axialbearing plate 49 is placed on top of the first radial bearing ring 47 toprovide a low friction annular bottom carbon surface. There is a thinlubricating film of the pumped fluid between the low friction annularbottom carbon surface and an annular top ceramic face of the firstradial bearing ring 47 for a low-friction axial sliding contact. Apermanent magnet rotor 51 embraces the rotor axle 45 and is rotationallyfixed to it. A second radial bearing ring 53 is in low-friction radialsliding contact with an upper end of the rotor axle 45. The secondradial bearing ring 47 is centered by a bearing bushing 55 with radialextensions and axial channels for allowing an axial fluid flow. As theimpeller 12 sucks itself together with the rotor axle 45 and thepermanent magnet rotor 51 downwards during rotation, only one axialbearing plate 49 is necessary.

The neck ring 29, the impeller 12, the rotor axle 45, the first radialbearing ring 47, the axial bearing plate 49, the permanent magnet rotor51, the second radial bearing ring 53 and the bearing bushing 55 areso-called “wet parts” which are all immersed in the fluid to be pumped.The rotating ones of the wet parts, i.e. the impeller 12, the rotor axle45 and the permanent magnet rotor 51 are so-called “wet-running” usingthe fluid to be pumped for providing lubricant films for reducingfriction at two radial surfaces and one axial contact surface. The fluidto be pumped is preferably water.

The wet parts are enclosed by a pot-shaped rotor can 57 such that fluidcan flow between the impeller chamber 23 and the inner volume of therotor can 57. The rotor can 57 comprises a lower first axial end, i.e.the axial end facing the impeller 12, and an upper second axial end,i.e. the axial end facing away from the impeller 12. The first axial endis open and defines a rotor can flange 63. The second axial end isclosed. The second axial end of the rotor can 57 may comprise apot-shaped coaxial appendix with a smaller radius than the main body ofthe rotor can 57 as shown in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 9.Alternatively, the second axial end of the rotor can 57 may be anessentially flat end of main body of the rotor can 57 as shown in theembodiment according to FIGS. 10 to 19.

In order to achieve a compact configuration of the pump unit 2, therotor can flange 63 is relatively small compared to the prior art, I.e.not much larger in diameter than the impeller 12 and fitting into thecircular opening 35 of the pump housing 11. However, such a compactconfiguration comes with a challenge to precisely coaxially align therotor axis with respect to the neck ring 29 of the pump housing 11. Thecoaxial alignment may be needed radially, axially and/or angularly.Preferred embodiments of the pump assembly disclosed herein provide fora radial, an axial and/or angular alignment of the rotor axis R, i.e.centering the rotor axis R with respect to the neck ring 29 of the pumphousing 11.

In order to center the rotor axis R with respect to the neck ring 29 ofthe pump housing 11, the rotor can flange 63 has a radial distance tothe pump housing 11. A radial gap H around the rotor can flange 63provides for some radial wiggle room to coaxially align the rotor can 57with respect to the pump housing 11. The rotor can 57 is centered bymeans of the bearing retainer 41 instead of the pump housing 11.Therefore, the rotor can 57 comprises a radial inner centering surface65 being centered by radially abutting against a radial outer centeringsurface 67 of the bearing retainer 41. The bearing retainer 41 itself iscentered by the bearing retainer flange 43 comprising a radial outerbearing retainer surface 69 radially abutting against a first radialinner reference surface 71 of the pump housing 11.

The radial outer bearing retainer surface 69 comprises at least threeradial projections 70 radially abutting against the first radial innerreference surface 71 of the pump 0housing 11 and centering the bearingretainer 41 with respect to the first radial inner reference surface 71of the pump housing 11. Similarly, the radial inner centering surface 65of the rotor can 57 and/or the radial outer centering surface 67 of thebearing retainer 41 may have at least three radial projections 72 forcentering the rotor can 57 with respect to the bearing retainer 41. Inthe example shown (best visible in FIG. 15), the radial outer centeringsurface 67 of the bearing retainer 41 comprises the radial projections72, which project radially outward to contact the radial inner centeringsurface 65 of the rotor can 57. In case of radial projections at theradial inner centering surface 65 of the rotor can 57, the radialprojections would project radially inward to contact the radial outercentering surface 67 of the bearing retainer 41.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 11, 13 and 14, the rotor can flange 63 formsa circumferential U-shaped groove 73 with a radial inner section 75 anda radial outer section 77, wherein the radial inner section 75 forms theradial inner centering surface 65 of the rotor can 57.

Thereby, the rotor can flange 63 is stiffened and stabilized. The rotorcan flange 63 further comprises an annular stop surface 79 facing awayfrom the impeller 12. This annular stop surface 79 defines an exactpositioning of the rotor can 57 in axial direction. The annular stopsurface 79 may be slightly conical, wherein the radially outward end 81of the annular stop surface 79 is located further away from the impeller12 than the radially inward end 83 of the annular stop surface 79. Therotor can flange 63 may thus deform resiliently for an axial movement toresiliently withstand pressure shocks. A sealing ring 84 (only visiblein the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11, 13 and 14), here in form of anO-ring with essentially circular cross-section, is arranged between thebearing retainer flange 43 and the rotor can flange 63. It seals aradial distance between the radial outer section 77 of the rotor canflange 63 and the first radial inner reference surface 71 of the pumphousing 11.

As can be seen best in FIG. 14, the annular stop surface 79 abutsaxially from below against a locking ring 85 being secured in acircumferential groove 87 of the pump housing 11. When the pump assemblyis being assembled (see FIG. 13), the locking ring 85 may be placed intothe groove 87 after the rotor can flange 63 has been placed intoposition within the pump housing 11. The rotor can 57 is thus securedagainst an upward movement out of the pump housing 11. The rotor canflange 63 comprises an annular contact surface 89 facing towards theimpeller 12 and the bearing retainer flange 43 comprises an annularbiasing surface 91 facing away from the impeller 12, wherein the bearingretainer 41 is resiliently spring-loaded for biasing the annular biasingsurface 91 of the bearing retainer flange 43 against the annular contactsurface 89 of the rotor can flange 63. The rotor can 57 is thus pressedupward against the locking ring 85 by means of the bearing retainer 41.

The bearing retainer flange 43 comprises a conical bearing retainerflange section 93, wherein a radially outward end 94 of the bearingretainer flange section 93, i.e. the radial outer bearing retainersurface 69, is located axially closer to the impeller 12 than a radiallyinward end 95 of the bearing retainer flange section 93. The radiallymost outward section of the bearing retainer flange section 93 rests onthe axial annular stop surface 39 of the pump housing 11. The annularbiasing surface 91 is formed by an upper radially inward portion of theconical bearing retainer flange section 93. The annular biasing surface91 comprises n 3 axial projections 94 towards the rotor can flange 63,wherein the axial projections 94 may be circumferentially distributed inan n-fold symmetry on the upper radially inward portion of the conicalbearing retainer flange section 93. Preferably, the annular biasingsurface 91 comprises n =4 dot-shaped projections 94. The projections 94serve as well-defined points of axial contact between the rotor canflange 63 and the bearing retainer flange 43.

FIG. 13 shows a situation during assembly of the pump assembly 1 beforethe rotor can 57 is secured in position by means of the locking ring 85.FIG. 14 shows a situation after the rotor can 57 is secured in positionby means of the locking ring 85. During assembly of the pump assembly 1,the bearing retainer 41 is placed into the pump housing 11 to rest onthe axial annular stop surface 39 of the pump housing 11. The rotor can57 is then pressed downwards with its lower annular contact surface 89onto the axial protrusions 94 of the upper annular biasing surface 91 ofthe bearing retainer flange 43 to resiliently deform the conical bearingretainer flange section 93. The locking ring 85 is placed into thegroove 87 to secure the rotor can 57 axially while the rotor can 57 isheld pressed down against the bearing retainer flange 43. Thus, thebearing retainer 41 is resiliently spring-loaded to bias the rotor can57 upward against the locking ring 85. The impeller 12, the rotor axle45, the rotor 51, the bearings 47, 53, the bearing retainer 41 and therotor can 57 are placed into the pump housing 11 as a firstpre-assembled unit 99 (see. FIG. 4) being secured downwards by thelocking ring 85, wherein the bearing retainer 41 acts as an upwardlybiasing spring. It should be noted in FIG. 13 that the bearing retainerflange 43 has initially some lateral wiggle room between the radialouter bearing retainer surface 69 and the first radial inner referencesurface 71 of the pump housing 11. This facilitates the insertion of thebearing retainer 41 into the pump housing 11 during assembly. As shownin FIG. 14, the axial pressure exerted by the rotor can flange 63 ontothe bearing retainer flange 43 slightly flattens the conical bearingretainer flange section 93, whereby the lateral wiggle room between theradial outer bearing retainer surface 69 and the first radial innerreference surface 71 of the pump housing 11 is closed. The radial outerbearing retainer surface 69 is radially pressed outward against thefirst radial inner reference surface 71 of the pump housing 11. Theflattening of the bearing retainer flange 43 between a first relaxedstate shown in FIG. 13 and a second spring-loaded state shown in FIG. 14can be seen by comparing the angle β in FIGS. 13 and 14. The angle β maybe denoted as a base angle of the conical bearing retainer flangesection 93 with an apex angle α=180°-2β. The apex angle a is notexplicitly shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, but it can be inferred that theapex angle α is larger in the second spring-loaded state shown in FIG.14 than in the first relaxed state shown in FIG. 13.

As shown in FIG. 15, the radial outer bearing retainer surface 69 maycomprise at least three, preferably four, radial projections 70 radiallyabutting against the first radial inner reference surface 71 of the pumphousing 11 and centering the bearing retainer 41 with respect to thefirst radial inner reference surface 71 of the pump housing 11. Itshould be noted in FIG. 14 that a radial gap H remains between the rotorcan flange 63 and the pump housing 11, so that the rotor can 57 caneffectively be centered by the contact between the radial innercentering surface 65 of the rotor can 57 and the radial outer centeringsurface 67 of the bearing retainer 41.

The neck ring 29, as shown in FIGS. 16a,b and 17 a,b, is coupled to thepump housing 11 by a several tons strong press-fit so that the neck ring29 and the pump housing 11 constitute a second pre-assembled unit 101 asopposed to the first preassembled unit 99 as shown in FIG. 4. When thepump assembly 1 is fully assembled, the impeller 12 is located axiallybetween the bearing retainer 41 and the neck ring 29, wherein the neckring 29 comprises the circumferential wall section 30 at least partiallyextending into the impeller 12. The circumferential wall section 30comprises a radial outer surface 105 and the impeller 12 comprises aradial inner surface 107, wherein the radial outer surface 105 of thecircumferential wall section 30 and the radial inner surface 107 of theimpeller 12 have a radial distance defining the gap G (see FIG. 4). Theindirect centering of the rotor can 57 by means of the bearing retainer41 rather than the pump housing 11 directly reduces manufacturingtolerances and thus allows for a smaller gap G, which increases thepumping efficiency.

The gap G is minimized by an asymmetrically machined neck ring 29 asshown in FIG. 17a,b . When the neck ring 29 is coupled to the pumphousing 11 by press-fitting, the neck ring 29 may be initiallyrotationally symmetric as shown in FIG. 16b . However, the lateralposition and/or the axial alignment of the neck ring 29 may not be exactand comprises some tolerances. If the neck ring 29 is not asymmetricallymachined neck ring 29 as shown in FIG. 16b after being press-fitted intothe pump housing 11, the gap G must be large enough to accommodate suchtolerances. As shown in FIG. 17b , the neck ring 29 is asymmetricallymachined with the same tool and in the same machining processing whichgenerates, at the pump housing 11, the first radial inner referencesurface 71 and the first annular reference surface 109. As a result, asshown in FIGS. 17a,b , the circumferential wall section 30 of the neckring 29 may get a machined cylindrical radial outer surface 105 that isexactly coaxially aligned with the first radial inner reference surface71 and a first annular reference surface 109, and thus with the rotoraxis R. After machining, the radial outer surface 105 of thecircumferential wall section 30 of the neck ring 29 is eccentric withrespect to a radial inner surface 110 of the circumferential wallsection 30. In the detail view of FIG. 17a , a milling edge 112extending along at least a portion of the circumference of thecircumferential wall section 30 of the neck ring 29 is visible on theleft-hand side, where more material was milled away from thecircumferential wall section 30 of the neck ring 29 than on theright-hand side. Thereby, the radial outer surface 105 is better alignedwith the rotor axis (R) so that the gap G can be configured smaller,which increases the pumping efficiency. It should be noted that themachined asymmetry of the circumferential wall section 30 of the neckring 29 may be in the range of tens of microns or even less. In analternative embodiment, the impeller 12 may at least partially extendinto the circumferential wall section 30 of the neck ring 29, so that itis the radial inner surface 110 of the circumferential wall section 30which is preferably eccentrically machined with respect to the radialouter surface 105 of the circumferential wall section 30 in order toreduce the gap G.

The stator housing 13 may be used to angularly align the rotor axis Rwith respect to the pump housing 11 as shown in FIG. 11. In order toachieve this, the pump housing 11 has a machined first annular referencesurface 109 facing away from the impeller 12 and the stator housing 13has a second annular reference surface 111 facing towards the impeller12, wherein the second annular reference surface 111 rests on the firstannular reference surface 109, biased downwards my means of a bayonetring 113. Thus, the angular orientation of the stator housing 13 withrespect to the pump housing 11 is well-defined. As explained above, thefirst annular reference surface 109 is machined with the same tool andin the same machining processing which generates the first radial innerreference surface 71 and the outer surface 105 of the neck ring 29.

The stator 17, as shown in FIGS. 18a,b , comprises windings (not shown)wound around a stator core 114, for instance essentially comprised of astack of ferrite or iron laminates, wherein the stator core 114 isformed as a stator ring 118 with radially inwardly projecting statorteeth 120. For the stator housing 13 to align the rotor can 57angularly, as shown in FIG. 11, the stator teeth 120 of the stator 17 inthe stator housing 13 define a second radial inner reference surface 115for a heat-conductive contact with the rotor can 57. Correspondingly,the rotor can 57 comprises a radial outer alignment surface 117 abuttingradially against the second radial inner reference surface 115. Thereby,the rotor can 57 is angularly aligned essentially perpendicular to thefirst annular reference surface 109 of the pump housing 11. It should benoted in FIG. 11 that the stator housing 13 has some lateral wiggle roomin the pump housing 11 so that the rotor can 57 is able to center thestator housing 57 while the stator housing 13 keeps the rotor axis Ressentially perpendicular to the first annular reference surface 109.

The second annular reference surface 111 of the stator housing 13 isdefined by injection overmolding a surface portion of the stator core114, wherein an injection mandrel contacts the second radial innerreference surface 115 and holds the stator core 114 in a well-definedposition during overmolding. Thereby, the second annular referencesurface 111 of the stator housing 13 is essentially perpendicular to thesecond radial inner reference surface 115 with minimal manufacturingtolerances. As shown in FIGS. 18a, b , the stator 17 comprises a firstmaterial 122 as an electrically insulating layer between the statorwindings and the stator core 114. The first material 122 effectivelycovers a first surface portion of the stator core 114 that serves as abobbin former for the stator windings to be spooled on. The layer of thefirst material 122 is preferably as thin as possible to allow for goodheat-dissipation between the stator windings and the stator core 114 andthick enough to be sufficiently electrically insulating. As high thermalconductivity is mostly accompanied by low dielectric strength, the heatdissipation is effectively maximized by overmolding the first surfaceportion of the stator core 114 with a thin layer of the first material122 having a high dielectric strength and/or a high comparative trackingindex (CTI), for instance above 175. Irrespective of whether the pumpassembly 1 is used as a medical equipment or not, the first material 122may belong to the material group IIIa according to the InternationalElectronic Commission Standard IEC 60601-1:2005 with a CTI in the rangeof 175 to 400. The first material 122 may be a moldable plastic such asa polyamide (PA), a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or a liquidcrystal polymer (LCP). The first material 122 may further form bobbinwebs 130 projecting axially from both axial ends of the stator core 114to keep the windings laterally in place (see FIGS. 18a, b ).

It should be noted that the overmolding of the first surface portion ofthe stator core 114 with the first material 122 is performed in a firstovermolding step, at a relatively high temperature of the stator core114 for decreasing the viscosity of the first material 122 and therebyachieving a comprehensive thin insulating coating layer. After thatfirst overmolding step, at a lower temperature of the stator core 114, asecond surface portion of the stator core 114 is overmolded in aseparate second overmolding step with a second material 124 for formingwalls of the stator housing 13. Thereby, the risk of cracking of thesecond material 124 is reduced, because the thermalexpansion/contraction of the stator core 114 during and afterovermolding can be better controlled. The second annular referencesurface 111 of the stator housing 13 is defined in the secondovermolding step, wherein an injection mandrel contacts the secondradial inner reference surface 115 defined by the stator teeth 120 andholds the stator core 114 in a well-defined position during injectionovermolding. The second material 124 fulfils different requirements thanthe first material 122 and may have different physical and/or chemicalproperties. For instance, the second material 124 may have particularlylow flammability, which is less of an issue for the first material 122,which may thus have a higher flammability than the second material 124.The second material 124 may be classified with the highestflame-retarding rating 5VA according to the UL 94 Standard for Safety ofFlammability of Plastic Materials. The second material 124 may be amoldable plastic such as a polyamide (PA), a polyphenylene sulphide(PPS), or a polyether ether ketone (PEEK). The second material 124 maycomprise a certain glass fibre content, for instance 10% to 50%,preferably about 30%, depending on the requirements.

A radially inner surface 126 of the stator ring 118 forms part of thefirst surface portion of the stator core 114 that is coated with thefirst material 122 having a first thickness d₁. A radially outer surface128 of the stator ring 118 forms part of the second surface portion ofthe stator core 114 that is coated with the second material 124 having asecond thickness d₂. In order to achieve a thin insulation coating madeof the first material 122 and stable integrity of the walls of thestator housing 13 made of the second material 124, the first thicknessd₁ is lower than the second thickness d₂. The different thicknesses d₁,d₂ may be best seen in FIG. 11. In case the thicknesses vary, e.g. inaxial direction as shown for the second thickness d₂ in FIG. 11, theminimal second thickness d₂ is higher than the minimal first thicknessd₁. Preferably, the second thickness d₂ is at least 2 mm.

For providing a good leverage to the stator housing 13 to align therotor can 57 angularly, the pump housing 11 is configured such that thefirst annular reference surface 109 is located radially more outwardthan the first radial inner reference surface 71 and/or the firstannular reference surface 109 is located axially further away from theimpeller 12 than the first radial inner reference surface 71.

Likewise, for having a good leverage to align the rotor can 57angularly, the stator housing 13 is configured such that the secondradial inner reference surface 115 is located radially more inward thanthe second annular reference surface 111 and/or the second radial innerreference surface 115 is located axially further away from the impeller12 than the second annular reference surface 111.

The embodiments of the pump assembly 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 19 have avery compact bayonet-like mount of the stator housing 13 to the pumphousing 11 (see in particular FIGS. 4 and 12). As part of thebayonet-like mount, the bayonet ring 113 secures the stator housing 13to the pump housing 11, wherein the bayonet ring 113 is resilientlyspring-loaded for axially biasing the stator housing 13 downwardsagainst the pump housing 11 towards the impeller 12. The second annularreference surface 111 of the stator housing 13 is thus pressed downwardsonto the first annular reference surface 109 of the pump housing 11 bymeans of the bayonet ring 113. The bayonet ring secures 113 the statorhousing against rotation around the rotor axis R in a well-definedangular position. The bayonet ring 113 is a metal wire with circularcross-section. The bayonet ring 113 comprises circumferential firstsections 119 with a first radius R_(a) and circumferential secondsections 121 with a second radius wherein the second radius R_(i), issmaller than the first radius R_(a), i.e. R_(i)<R_(a). The secondsections 121 may be formed as radially inward projections cooperatingwith bayonet grooves 123 in a radially outer surface 125 of the statorhousing 13. The first sections 119 of the bayonet ring 113 are securedin a circumferential groove 127 of the pump housing 11. The bayonetgrooves 123 in the stator housing 13 may comprise a first “vertical”section 129 through which the second sections 121 of the bayonet ring113 pass when the stator housing 13 is placed downwards onto the firstannular reference surface 109 of the pump housing 11. The bayonetgrooves 123 in the stator housing 13 may comprise a second “upwardlysloped” circumferential section 131 with a first end 133 at the first“vertical” section 129 and a second end 135 circumferentially distancedfrom the first end 133, wherein the first end 133 of the second section131 is located closer to the second annular reference surface 111 of thestator housing 13 than the second end 135 of the second section 131.Upon manual rotation of the stator housing 13 by a pre-defined angle forthe second sections 121 of the bayonet ring 113 to be guided along thesecond sections 131 of the bayonet grooves 123 from the first end 133 tothe second end 135, the second sections 121 of the bayonet ring 113 arepushed upward by the slope while the first sections 119 of the bayonetring 113 remain secured in the pump housing 11. Thereby, the bayonetring 113 resiliently twists between the first sections 119 and thesecond sections 121. The second sections 121 of the bayonet ring 113 mayclick into a horizontal or “downwardly sloped” end section 137 at thesecond end 135 of the second section 131 of the grooves 123. Theresilient twist of the bayonet ring 113 biases the second annularreference surface 111 of the stator housing 13 downward onto the firstannular reference surface 109 of the pump housing 11.

FIGS. 19a-c show the lid or cap 21 of the stator housing 13 in differentviews. The cap 21 comprises two materials, a first electricallyinsulating material 139 at the outer side of the cap 21 and aheat-conductive second material 141 at the inner side of the cap 21. Thefirst material 139 of the cap 21 may be the same as the second material124 of the stator 17. The heat-conductive material 141 may comprise ametal or a plastic with heat-conductive additives such as graphitecarbon fibers and/or ceramics like boron nitride. As the heat-conductivematerial 141 is usually less suitable for electric insulation, the firstheat-conductive material 141 is only at the inside of the cap 21 and notat the outside. The inner side of the first material 139 may be at leastpartially overmolded with the heat-conductive material 141. Theheat-conductive material 141 is useful to dissipate heat from the PCB 15which extends in a plane essentially perpendicular to the rotor axis Rclose to the inner side of the cap 21. It is particularly advantageousthat the cap 21 comprises a front face 19 that extends essentiallyparallel to the PCB 15, i.e. essentially perpendicular to the rotor axisR, and a radially outer wall 143 extending essentially parallel to therotor axis R. Thereby, the heat-conductive material 141 can not onlyextend essentially parallel to the front face 19 at the inner side ofthe cap 21, but also essentially parallel to the radially outer wall 143at the inner side of the cap 21. This has the advantage that the heatfrom the PCB 15 is effectively dissipated when the pump assembly 1 isinstalled in a horizontal as well as in a vertical rotor axisorientation. This is, because the heat-conductive material 141 is mostefficient when a convection hot air stream is able to flow along theouter side of the first material 139 to cool down. As the convection hotair stream is mainly vertical, it is advantageous to have theheat-conductive material 141 close to the PCB 15 extending in a verticaldirection irrespective of the installation orientation of the rotor axisR of the pump assembly 1. The surface of the heat-conductive material141 that is facing the PCB 15 is terraced corresponding to the layout ofthe PCB, so that a direct contact or only a minimal gap between theelectronic components on the PCB 15 and the heat-conductive material 141is achieved over most of the area of the PCB 15 to facilitate a mostefficient heat transfer from the components of the PCB 15 to theheat-conductive material 141, preferably indirectly conveyed by aheat-conductive paste arranged between the heat-conductive material 141and the electronic components on the PCB 15.

FIG. 19c indicates by dashes in the second material 141 that the secondmaterial 141 is not fully homogeneous, but has an inner structuredefining a certain spatial orientation of the second material 141. Thespatial orientation of the inner structure of the second material 141basically follows a flow path that the second material 141 took duringthe overmolding of the inner side of the cap 21. Therefore, the secondmaterial 141 comprises at least one first area 145, where the spatialorientation is predominantly parallel to the rotor axis (R), and atleast one second area 147, where the spatial orientation ispredominantly perpendicular to the rotor axis (R). The first area(s) 145mark the area(s) at or around injection point(s) of the second material141 during overmolding. The second area(s) 147 mark the area(s) wherethe second material 141 flows along the inner side of the front face 19.It was found that the spatial orientation of the inner structure of thesecond material 141 has a significant influence on the heat-conductingproperties. Heat conduction along the spatial orientation of the innerstructure of the second material 141 is better than perpendicular to it.Therefore, the first area 145 of the second material 141 has a firstdirection 149 of predominant heat-conduction perpendicular to the frontface 19, whereas the second area 147 of the second material 141 has asecond direction 151 of predominant heat-conduction parallel to thefront face 19 or the radially outer wall 143 of the cap 21. The laterallocation of the injection point(s) of the second material 141 duringovermolding may thus be wisely chosen to define the first area(s) 145,where the hottest electronic components are located on the PCB 15. Thisfacilitates the heat dissipation from the components on the PCB 15 intothe second material 141, which spreads the heat laterally via the secondarea(s) 147. The first material 139 may act as a heat sink that iscooled by an ambient convection air stream along the front face 19and/or the radially outer wall 143 of the cap 21.

Where, in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentionedwhich have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then suchequivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope ofthe present disclosure, which should be construed so as to encompass anysuch equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader thatintegers or features of the disclosure that are described as optional,preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do notlimit the scope of the independent claims.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples ofthe disclosure. It is to be understood that any feature described inrelation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination withother features described, and may also be used in combination with oneor more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination ofany other of the embodiments. While at least one exemplary embodimenthas been shown and described, it should be understood that othermodifications, substitutions and alternatives are apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art and may be changed without departing from thescope of the subject matter described herein, and this application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specificembodiments discussed herein.

In addition, “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and“a” or “one” does not exclude a plural number. Furthermore,characteristics or steps which have been described with reference to oneof the above exemplary embodiments may also be used in combination withother characteristics or steps of other exemplary embodiments describedabove. Method steps may be applied in any order or in parallel or mayconstitute a part or a more detailed version of another method step. Itshould be understood that there should be embodied within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of the contribution to the art. Suchmodifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, which should bedetermined from the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

-   1 pump assembly-   2 pump unit-   3 input port-   5 output port-   7 connector flange-   9 connector flange-   11 pump housing-   12 impeller-   13 stator and/or electronics housing-   15 printed circuit board (PCB)-   17 stator-   19 front face of the cap of the stator housing-   21 cap of the stator housing-   23 impeller chamber-   25 concentric bottom entry-   27 tangential exit-   29 neck ring-   31 inner spiral vanes-   33 impeller plate-   35 circular opening-   37 inward projection-   39 axial annular stop surface of the pump housing-   41 bearing retainer-   43 bearing retainer flange-   45 rotor axle-   47 first radial bearing ring-   49 axial bearing plate-   51 rotor-   53 second radial bearing ring-   55 bearing bushing-   57 rotor can-   63 rotor can flange-   65 radial inner centering surface-   67 radial outer centering surface-   69 radial outer bearing retainer surface-   70 radial projections of the radial outer bearing retainer surface-   71 first radial inner reference surface-   72 radial projections of the radial outer centering surface-   73 circumferential groove of the rotor can flange-   75 radial inner section of the rotor can flange-   77 radial outer section of the rotor can flange-   79 annular stop surface of the rotor can flange-   81 radially outward end of the annular stop surface of the rotor can    flange-   83 radially inward end of the annular stop surface of the rotor can    flange-   84 sealing ring-   85 locking ring-   87 circumferential groove of the pump housing-   89 annular contact surface of the rotor can flange-   91 annular biasing surface of the bearing retainer flange-   93 bearing retainer flange section-   94 axial projections-   95 radially inward end of the bearing retainer flange section-   99 first pre-assembled unit-   101 second pre-assembled unit-   105 radial outer surface-   107 radial inner surface-   109 first annular reference surface-   110 radial inner surface-   111 second annular reference surface-   112 milling edge-   113 bayonet ring-   114 stator core-   115 second radial inner reference surface-   117 radial outer alignment surface-   118 stator ring-   119 circumferential first sections of the bayonet ring-   120 stator teeth-   121 circumferential second sections of the bayonet ring-   122 first material of the stator-   123 bayonet grooves-   124 second material of the stator-   125 radially outer surface of the stator housing-   126 radially inner surface of the stator ring-   127 circumferential groove of the pump housing-   128 radially outer surface of the stator ring-   129 first section of a bayonet groove-   130 bobbin webs-   131 second section of a bayonet groove-   133 first end of the second section of a bayonet groove-   135 second end of the second section of a bayonet groove-   137 end section of a bayonet groove-   139 first material of the cap of the stator housing-   141 second material of the cap of the stator housing-   143 radially outer wall of the cap of the stator housing-   145 first area of the first material of the cap of the stator    housing-   147 second area of the first material of the cap of the stator    housing-   149 first direction of predominant heat dissipation-   151 second direction of predominant heat dissipation-   R rotor axis-   H radial gap of the rotor can-   G radial gap of the neck ring-   α apex angle of conical bearing retainer flange section

$\beta = \frac{{180{^\circ}} - \alpha}{2}$

What is claimed is:
 1. A pump assembly comprising: a rotor axleextending along a rotor axis; an impeller fixed to the rotor axle; apump housing accommodating the impeller, wherein the pump housingdefines a first radial inner reference surface; a drive motor comprisinga stator and a rotor, wherein the rotor is fixed to the rotor axle fordriving the impeller; a rotor can accommodating the rotor, wherein therotor can comprises a rotor can flange; a stator housing accommodatingthe stator; a first radial bearing ring in sliding contact with therotor axle; a bearing retainer engaging the first radial bearing ringand centering the first radial bearing ring with respect to the firstradial inner reference surface of the pump housing; and a neck ringcoupled to the pump housing, wherein: the impeller is located axiallybetween the bearing retainer and the neck ring; the neck ring comprisesa circumferential wall section; the circumferential wall section atleast partially extends into the impeller or the impeller at leastpartially extends into the circumferential wall section; thecircumferential wall section of the neck ring comprises a cylindricalradial outer surface and a cylindrical radial inner surface; and theradial outer surface is eccentric with respect to the radial innersurface.
 2. The pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein: theimpeller comprises a radial surface; the radial outer surface or theradial inner surface of the circumferential wall section has a radialdistance to the radial surface of the impeller defining a gap.
 3. Thepump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the radial outer surface orthe radial inner surface of the circumferential wall section of the neckring is coaxial with the first radial inner reference surface and therotor axis.
 4. The pump assembly according claim 1, wherein the radialouter surface or the radial inner surface of the circumferential wallsection of the neck ring is a machined surface with a milling edgeextending along at least a portion of the circumference of thecircumferential wall section of the neck ring.
 5. The pump assemblyaccording claim 1, wherein: the rotor can flange has a radial distanceto the pump housing; and the rotor can comprises a radial innercentering surface, centered by radially abutting against a radial outercentering surface of the bearing retainer.
 6. The pump assemblyaccording to claim 5, wherein: the radial inner centering surface of therotor can has at least three radial projections; or the radial outercentering surface of the bearing retainer has at least three radialprojections; or the radial inner centering surface of the rotor can hasand the radial outer centering surface of the bearing retainer have atleast three radial projections.
 7. The pump assembly according to claim5, wherein the bearing retainer comprises a radial outer bearingretainer surface having at least three radial projections radiallyabutting against the first radial inner reference surface of the pumphousing and centering the bearing retainer with respect to the firstradial inner reference surface of the pump housing
 8. The pump assemblyaccording claim 1, wherein: the rotor can flange forms a circumferentialU-shaped groove with a radial inner section and a radial outer section;and the radial inner section forms the radial inner centering surface ofthe rotor can.
 9. The pump assembly according claim 1, wherein the rotorcan flange comprises an annular stop surface facing away from theimpeller.
 10. The pump assembly according to claim 9, further comprisinga locking ring being secured in a circumferential groove of the pumphousing, wherein the annular stop surface axially abuts against thelocking ring.
 11. The pump assembly according claim 1, wherein: therotor can flange comprises an annular contact surface facing towards theimpeller; the bearing retainer comprises an annular biasing surfacefacing away from the impeller; the bearing retainer is resilientlypreloaded for biasing the annular biasing surface of the bearingretainer against the annular contact surface of the rotor can flange.12. The pump assembly according to claim 11, wherein: the annularcontact surface of the rotor can flange has at least three axialprojections; or the annular biasing surface of the bearing retainer hasat least three axial projections; or the annular contact surface of therotor can flange and the annular biasing surface of the bearing retainerhave at least three axial projections.
 13. A method of manufacturing apump assembly comprising a rotor axle extending along a rotor axis, animpeller fixed to the rotor axle, a pump housing accommodating theimpeller, a drive motor comprising a stator and a rotor, wherein therotor is fixed to the rotor axle for driving the impeller, a rotor canaccommodating the rotor, wherein the rotor can comprises a rotor canflange, a stator housing accommodating the stator, a first radialbearing ring in sliding contact with the rotor axle and a bearingretainer engaging the first radial bearing ring, the method comprisingthe steps of: coupling a neck ring to the pump housing; defining a firstradial inner reference surface by machining the pump housing; anddefining a radial outer surface or a radial inner surface by machining acircumferential wall section of the neck ring so that the radial outersurface or the radial inner surface is coaxial with the first radialinner reference surface.
 14. The method according to claim 13, whereinthe steps of defining the first radial inner reference surface anddefining the radial outer surface or the radial inner surface areperformed after the step of coupling the neck ring to the pump housing.15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of defining thefirst radial inner reference surface and defining the radial outersurface or the radial inner surface are performed with the samemachining tool, wherein the fastening of the pump housing in themachining tool is maintained between these two defining steps.
 16. Themethod according to claim 13, further comprising a step of defining afirst annular reference surface by machining the pump housing, whereinall defining steps are performed with the same machining tool, whereinthe fastening of the pump housing in the machining tool is maintainedbetween the defining steps.